I don’t know if enough people look at my blog to make it a place to spread information, but for the six or seven folks who do read it:
THE DM TEST IS FREE if your veterinarian diagnoses your dog with possible DM (regardless of breed or mixture). You order the test from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals In the center of the home page on the right side is “The New DNA Test Page”. That will take you to the place to order the DM test or to obtain the information about submitting a no cost test with the unfavorable diagnosis.
$65 per test is a lot of money (a couple of entry fees and lunch for sure), but that amount represents The University of Missouri’s actual cost of running the DNA test. If there is any “profit”, it is put back into the research pot.
THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED: On Friday, April 17th, Dr. Coates will discuss DM and other spinal diseases at 6:00 PM. The Judges’ Education seminar has been pushed back to 7:30 PM. That will allow people to learn about their dogs’ insides as well as their outsides — all in one evening. I hope to see lots of our Cardi bloggers at the DM seminar for sure.
If we do not try to change, there will be no changes.
“If we do not try to change, there will be no changes.”
-So very true!
Penni, thanks for putting on the pressure to get the time changed. You’re awesome.
Please share what you learn for those of us who won’t be able to get to the Nationals this year.
I’ll be watching your blog…
Please, please take copious notes and share them on your blog!
I understand in a multi-dog home $65 adds up, but you do not need to do it all at once. I just sent in an entry for Bug for one day – $31.75. So I miss two shows and put off him being finished by a couple of weekends. More importantly I know whether I should be supplementing my boy prophylactically.
But that is me, Bug is just a performance dog, but I want to *know* so I can treat him to the best of my abilities.
Julie — there is no such thing as “just” a performance dog! A “performance” dog is a “participation” dog — and the only reason to have a dog! I will take notes because we need to do everything we can for our friends.
I agree with that statement! 🙂
But it seems as though people do not think it is as important to test pet and performance dogs. Hopefully that will change!
I can’t wait to hear all about the DM seminar–I’m so sad I’m not going to nationals this year.
$65 per test may seem expensive, but if you average it out over the lifetime of a dog, it’s not much at all…and the information that will be gained will be so very valuable for future research.
I hope the CWCCA decides to support future DM research in whatever capacity they are able to.